NSC's Thawil threatens court fight over removal
The secretarygeneral of the National Security Council, Thawil Pliansri, yesterday threatened to file a complaint with the Central Administrative Court after he is replaced by Royal Thai Police commander Wichean Potephosree.
He dismissed a statement by Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung suggesting he had initiated his transfer from the NSC, saying that he had done nothing wrong and served at the council for 30 years with integrity.
Thawil also countered Chalerm's claim that he should leave the NSC because he had served in the Centre for Resolution of the Emergency Situation, a government warroom dealing with violent protests by proThaksin Shinawatra red shirts last year. Thawil said his was an ex officio position in a critical situation.
If he is transferred, Thawil said his position would be equivalent to that of a permanent secretary, not as an inspectorgeneral at the PM's Office Ministry, reported as a possible destination if his removal is successful.
Apart from the Central Administrative Court, Thawil said he would seek assistance through regular channels with the Office of the Civil Service Commission's ethics committee.
"However, I will need to wait for a Cabinet decision removing me from the NSC before taking any action. The umbrella is not opened until it rains," he added.
Thawil called on Wichean to put up a fight to protect the virtue of transfer policy and prevent political intervention in the bureaucratic system.
Former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the attempted replacement of Wichean with deputy Priewpan Damapong, brother of Khunying Pojaman na Pombejra, exwife of Thaksin, was not beyond expectation.
He called on key government officials to seek justice in case of such a transfer, which he said had no grounds. He said the Cabinet and the government must explain why replacement of an incumbent with a relative of Thaksin was necessary.
Multicolourshirt leader Tul Sitthisomwong yesterday led a brief rally before reading out a statement condemning what he called political interference in replacing Wichean, reading: "There is no justification to transfer him out of the police service."
Tul said that if Wichean were guilty of involvement in gambling dens, he should face investigation instead of political pressure to dislodge him from office.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has yet to set a schedule for the Police Policy Board to name a new national police chief, board Secretary General Aek Angsananot said earlier.
Aek said he was not sure whether the board could convene by Monday as speculated in the press. The new national police chief would be selected from three candidates proposed - deputies Pol Generals Phanuphong Singhara na Ayutthaya, Praphawat Pansiri and Priewpan.
